South Korea enacted a martial law decree late Tuesday night and then lifted it early Wednesday morning. What does this mean and how concerned should you be, if you’re planning a trip or currently in the country? Here’s a brief rundown. Intense winter of politics ahead Politically, South Korea braces for a potentially volatile winter, with the fate of its president, Yoon Suk Yeol, hanging in the balance. Calls for him to step down are exploding, with the six opposition parties pushi

Politics Dec. 4, 2024

The six-hour high-stakes political drama that unfolded in Seoul from Tuesday to Wednesday left onlookers worldwide scrambling for answers. On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, reactions poured in. For many, the sequence of events seemed dizzying. One viral post by user @MyLordBebo, titled “Summary of the crazy events in South Korea,” garnered over 945,000 views, accompanied by a video of armed soldiers clashing with lawmakers in the National Assembly. In response to this p

Social Affairs Dec. 4, 2024

Who says government institutions are boring? In South Korea, the typically not-so-interesting image of state-run organizations and local governments is getting a glow-up, thanks to a growing wave of meme-worthy content that they create. Take Korail, the national railway operator. In a video on its YouTube channel, a real-life KTX train driver waltzes down the aisle of the new KTX Cheongryong train. Dressed in her uniform, she delivered a quirky dance to "Shooting Stars" by Bag Raiders.

Hashtag Korea Nov. 30, 2024

Record amounts of heavy snow blanketed Seoul and its surrounding areas for a second consecutive day, causing tree branches to snap and roofs to collapse in areas hit hard by the snowstorm on Thursday. In addition to the volume of snow, the Korea Meteorological Administration attributed the danger to its composition. The snow that has fallen in greater Seoul over the past two days has been predominantly wet snow, significantly heavier than dry snow. While dry snow weighs about 150 kilograms per c

Social Affairs Nov. 28, 2024

Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform making waves globally, has reached a milestone this month — 20 million users worldwide. And South Korea is riding this wave, too. According to Mobile Index, the rising platform’s Korean monthly active users reached 595,588 in October, marking a staggering 1,147.69 percent increase from September. Though these numbers are still modest compared to X’s 6 million and Threads' 4 million Korean monthly active users, the momentum i

Technology Nov. 27, 2024

When someone you personally know passes away, how do you mourn? For some, posting about it on social media, particularly Instagram, has become a part of the mourning process. Following the death of actor Song Jae-rim on Nov. 12, the platform was flooded with tributes. Friends and colleagues posted memories and heartfelt messages. For instance, broadcaster Hong Seok-cheon shared his sorrow on Instagram. “I am heartbroken that I will never see your wonderful smile again... I failed to care

Hashtag Korea Nov. 26, 2024

Christmas has arrived early in Seoul’s department stores, where luxury retailers Shinsegae, Lotte, and Hyundai are locked in a competition to outshine one another and attract customers. With the domestic economy still struggling to recover, the festive displays went up even earlier this year, starting on Nov. 1. Shinsegae Department Store in Myeongdong arguably lit the fuse of this holiday decoration competition. Since 2021, the store has forgone outdoor advertisements for big brands durin

Consumer Nov. 21, 2024

On a crisp autumn Sunday morning in Seoul’s World Cup Park, the air buzzed with excitement — and the occasional bark. Sixty Jindo dogs, Korea’s national breed, gathered for a one-of-a-kind parade. The event, “Let’s Go for a Walk, Jindo” (literal translation), aimed to shift public perceptions of these loyal yet often misunderstood companions. “It’s very difficult for Jindo dogs to live in Korea,” said Kim Eun-ho, the event’s organizer

Hashtag Korea Nov. 21, 2024

A senior secretary to President Yoon Suk Yeol criticized a journalist's question, which had asked the president to elaborate on the specifics reasons for his public apology during a televised press conference, calling it "rude." At a parliamentary session Tuesday, Hong Chul-ho, Yoon’s senior political secretary, made the criticism while trying to defend the president and the latter's 140-minute-long Q&A session with the media on Nov. 7. “The president apologiz

Politics Nov. 20, 2024

In Korea, there is a word expressing an emotion that people use with great frequency, though it doesn't translate well into English: “seounhada.” This term, used interchangeably with “seopseophada,” captures a combination of feelings: hurt, disappointment, sadness or a sense of being mistreated, ignored or even offended. It can be a combination of all or any of those feelings, but subtle and not too intense. And here's the kicker — these feelings are often

Hashtag Korea Nov. 17, 2024

Andy Kim, 42, a three-term Congress representative from New Jersey, has won the US Senate race, becoming the first Korean American elected to the Senate. Kim, a Democrat, defeated Republican Curtis Bashaw, securing 53 percent of the vote to Bashaw’s 44.7 percent, with 87 percent of ballots counted as of 3 p.m., according to AP. This Senate seat opened in August when former Senator Bob Menendez resigned after being convicted on charges of bribery and acting as an agent of the Egyptian gover

Politics Nov. 6, 2024

If you’ve ever attended a Korean wedding, you know the drill: First, hand over an envelope of congratulatory money at the front desk to receive your meal coupon, then either attend or skip the ceremony itself, which typically lasts 30 minutes to an hour. Enjoy a sit-down or buffet meal during which the couple, after the formal wedding ceremony, make their rounds to each table, thanking the guests. But that wasn’t the wedding day that Rebecca Nour, a Lebanese American influencer, ha

Hashtag Korea Nov. 6, 2024

"Apateu, apateu." This catchy chant over a bouncy beat has been propelling Blackpink’s Rose and Bruno Mars’ collaboration, “APT,” to massive global success. For many South Koreans, the tune and its themes feel all too familiar, mirroring the drinking game of the same name that they've nearly grown out of. “Drinking games are kind of over,” said Lee Ji-won, 22, a university student in Seoul. “People who bring them up seem old-fashioned. T

Hashtag Korea Oct. 31, 2024

South Korea’s resident identification card is due to get a fresh look. On Monday, the government announced a nationwide design competition to revamp the card, which was last redesigned in 1999. The competition, which will run from Nov. 18-28, will involve both professional designers and the general public. "Through this competition, we aim to actively solicit public input and incorporate expert ideas to create a new ID card design that represents South Korea," the Ministry of the

Social Affairs Oct. 28, 2024

In "Toy Story 3," protagonist Andy grew older, developed other interests and ultimately gave his toys away to a little girl before leaving for college. But not everyone finds themselves able to say "goodbye" to their toys like Andy. And when years of wear and tear take their toll, those toys often find their way to Kim Kap-yeon, the CEO of ToyTalez. For Kim's clients, her work is about far more than just repairing stuffed animals. "Our customers come in and say, &

Hashtag Korea Oct. 23, 2024